Linebacker Read Steps

We teach our linebackers to stagger their outside foot and step to balance on the snap of the ball this keeps them from running or over reacting on first read. Coach Campbell

Jerry's way is the generally accepted way.

Since our defense was structured a bit differently from the "conventional" - we didn't take any read steps at all because our LBers looked for 3 things:

#1 DIRECT READ (ball & near back approach your gap responsibility) = shoot your gap immediately (no read step forward necessary - just GO when you get that read).

#2 FAST READ (I.E, a TOSS SWEEP to the TB in the "I") = flip your hips & RUN = staying 1 step behind the BC (a read step forward would have made us 1 step later getting there).

#3 SLOW READ (slow developing play between the offensive tackles, such as counter/power) = keep your feet in cement until there is no threat in your gap responsibility - then shuffle laterally staying 1 step behind the BC to make the play.

For the above reasons - we found it best just to keep them stationary until they got their read. Since our ILB's were covered by the DT's (& the OL could not get a straight shot on them) - we didn't need to step forward OR backward, etc.

This was suited to OUR style of 4-2-5 - where both ILB's aligned behind the DT's (ONE was directly behind the 3 technique, and the OTHER was stacked on the outside leg of the 1 technique).

We work read steps every single day. It seems like we never get a direct inside flow anymore from offenses or very rarely anyway. I have the LB's take three short down hill steps where their initial key takes them. In that time they check their secondary key for misdirection or counter etc.. When they see that they redirect immediately and attack their gaps. I personally don't like the shuffle of LB's nor do I like short hops or popping of the feet. I want the LB's to be fast, active and aggressive to the ball. When they shuffle or hop it's "unnatural", makes more stationary targets for down blocks and takes away their aggression in my opinion.

I'm not saying my way is neccessarily better than the next guy. I just know it works for my guys and the other techniques aren't my cup of tea.

Coach Perales,

Are you any relation to coach DON PERALES from Lindsay, Ca? If so, tell him Coach Easton and son Lance said hello.

Coach Easton